Join the members and co-sponsors of American Legion Post 130, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10100, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 144 and the LaBelle Moose Lodge for a fun and meaningful Saturday and attend the Annual Fallen Heroes Benefit and Pork Dinner on July 22nd, at the LaBelle VFW Post 10100. The meal will consist of BBQ pork steaks, Linda’s delicious cheesy potatoes, Dale’s famous baked beans and dessert for a donation of $10. Before the benefit dinner, there will be a short remembrance ceremony starting at 9:30 a.m. at the LaBelle Veteran’s Memorial Park, at the corner of the Main Street and Hwy. 80, LaBelle and the benefit to follow at the LaBelle VFW 10100, south 29, next to the Rodeo Grounds. Activities will include cakewalk, 50/50, homemade cake raffle, music and more.

This year will be the tenth anniversary of two of LaBelle’s sons, Robert Hammond and Christopher Strickland, who both were killed in action in June of 2008. The benefit has transformed over the years, but the message remains the same…to honor and remember all our veterans for generations to come.

Last year, the LaBelle Veteran’s Memorial Park announced plans to erect a granite wall in place of the many deteriorating bricks that cover the park floor. For several months’ volunteers, have been working through the files trying to organize and rebuild the names and branches of service of each veteran currently honored with an engraved brick. But the information is incomplete for many of the veterans, and we need the public’s help.

Any veteran that has a brick in the park will automatically be placed on the new wall at no cost. But to minimize any mistakes the park committee is asking that the veteran or family of the veteran submit the veteran’s name, branch of service and rank to the Veteran’s Park c/o American Legion Post 130, 699 W. Hickopochee Ave., LaBelle, FL 33935 or email them to LabelleVeteransMemorialPark@gmail.com. Or to drop it by the American Legion Post 130, Attention: Veteran’s Memorial Park Chairman.

The funds raised this year will again go towards the wall. Remembering the Veterans of our community and our families is the whole meaning behind the park. As we move forward, the memorial park will continue to need the help and commitment of the community to make this center piece of our community, and a meaningful place to honor our Veterans.